The ministerial consultations between Belarus and Germany were held in Minsk on 5 November, it was learnt from the press service of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus.

A Belarusian delegation was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Valery Voronetsky, German one - by the German Foreign Ministry’s Plenipotentiary for the Relations with Eastern Europe Transcaucasia and Central Asia Hans -Dieter Lucas.

In the course of the consultations the sides considered the development of bilateral relations including in trade and economic area, the course of the Belarus-EU dialogue, interaction between the Republic of Belarus and the FRG in international organizations and other issues of mutual interest. The sides identified a range of steps to be taken to further the Belarusian-German cooperation.

Germany is one of Belarus’ biggest foreign trading partners (second in 2008) among the non-CIS countries. According to the Foreign Ministry, the trade between the two countries stepped up by 24.2% in 2008 as against 2007 and reached $3.6 billion. The export grew 11.1% to $812.4 million, the import increased by 28.6% ($2.8 billion). Belarus had a $2 billion deficit in trade with Germany.

In January-September 2009 the trade between Belarus and Germany fell 18.3% over the same period of 2008 to $2.2 billion. The export reduced by 0.4% to $634.3 million, import by 24% to $1.5 billion. Belarus had a $900.1 million deficit.

Belarus’ main exports to Germany are mineral products, basic metals, equipment and vehicles, gear and instruments, products of the chemical industry, textile, products of the forestry and wood-working, agricultural and food industries, construction materials. Major imports are machines, equipment, transport vehicles, facilities and instruments.

In January- September 2009 Germany invested $42.4 million, including $37.4 million of direct investments. In Belarus there are 352 companies with German capital (187 joint ventures, 165 foreign companies). There are 103 representative offices of German firms in Belarus. Seven representative offices of the Belarusian companies have been opened in Germany.

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